You've zipped by it on your way to Disney or Universal. It's about halfway between Tampa and Orlando, just minutes off I-4, and you should consider detouring there one of these days. Fantasy of Flight touts itself as "the world's greatest aircraft collection." It would be hard to imagine a better one. In a voluminous hangar, the attraction houses planes that range from the early 20th century through WWII. No jets, please.
For aviation aficionados, Fantasy of Flight is a must-see. Those with a passing curiosity will pick up some interesting info, see a slew of impressive aircraft and walk through some prefabricated history.
The first section of FOF is its least effective.
Kermit Weeks, the attraction's founder/creator and an aerobatics champion, decided to go Disney-esque with an indoor tour that takes the viewer through the flight experience in the first half of last century. The initial stop in the dark hallway presumes to simulate flying. You stand in front of several contoured mirrors — a stiff air-conditioned breeze blowing in your face — and watch as images of clouds and ground swirl and reflect. Frilly string-music pumps through the room. This was a passable psychedelic effect, but flying? No.
After a pass through early flight and WWI, made mostly of static sets and scratchy old films projected on the wall, you proceed to the WWII experience, the most effective. On a movie screen, an officer in shadow briefs you on a mission; then you proceed onto a dark airfield where you can walk through a genuine B-17 bomber. Flight sound effects, voiceovers and a slight rumble inside the plane attempt to re-create the bomber experience. Lasting impression: These airmen must have frozen their asses off in this hulking piece of tin.
This first segment takes about a half-hour, after which you come upon the airplane museum. A tour of the restoration area is available, as are flight simulators.
Once a day, weather permitting, Fantasy of Flight demonstrates a featured aircraft. On a gorgeous afternoon in mid April, it was the Fielser Storch, a versatile plane used by the Germans in WWII. This one specialized in slow flying, which allows extremely short take-offs and landings. (It was used to rescue Mussolini from hostile hands.) The pilot flew the plane around the grounds, sometimes at ridiculously slow speeds (he said that with enough headwind, the plane would virtually fly in place). Watching him float around was pretty cool, but would've been way cooler if we could've taken turns riding along. To that end, Fantasy of Flight offers open cockpits rides in a biplane (up to four passengers) and hot-air balloon rides. They cost extra, of course.
Take I-4 to exit 44, Polk City, and follow the signs. Adults (13-59), $24.95; seniors (60+), $22.95; children (5-12), $13.95; and children under 5 enter free. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except during special events, Thanksgiving and Christmas. 863-984-3500.
This article appears in May 14-20, 2003.